Earth-closet commode



(No Model.)

J. W. STOWBLL. l EARTH CLOSBT GOMMODE.

No. 410,813. Patented Sept. 10, 1889'.

itl t W/T/VESSES:

compartment, or box open.

UNITED STATES -v PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. rSTOVELL, OF PUTNEY, VERMONT.

EARTH-CLOSET COIVIIVIODE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,813, dated September 10, 1889.

ApplFzation filed June 30, 1888. Serial No. 278,665. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.' A

Be it known that I, JOHN W. STOWELL, of Putney, in the county of Vindham and State of Vermont, have invented a new and mproved Earth-Closet Commode, of which thev following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an article of house hold furniture, combining a commode and an earth-closet in a manner not to indicate the presence of the closet when the structure is folded or closed, the whole making an inexpensive, ornate, and useful piece of furniture. rFhe invention will first be described, and then will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my iniproved commode with the earth-closet in position for use, and with the excrement vessel,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the commode and open earth-closet. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the improvement, taken through the closed commode, the hinged front portion of the piece of furniture being in section on the line a: in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View of the valved earth-box of the earth-closet, the valve being open.

The herein-described piece of furniture when it is closed has every appearance of a commode, and gives no clue from its design of its chief use, which is that of an earthcloset, as the following detailed description will disclose.

The commode is made in two main parts or sections, or a relatively stationary body or case A, and a hinged or swinging section B, in which latter the earth-closet and its appurtenances are arranged. The case A is provided with an upper drawer C, for holding towels and other toilet requisites, and at the top a few small shelves d d are preferably provided for holding toilet-bottles or lother articles of use or ornament, as is common in articles of furniture of this general character. The earth-closet section B is hung by hinges b to one end of the case A, and at its other end the part B has a couple of headed pins d d', which, when the commode is closed, are adapted for engagement by hooksD D on the case, for holding the wh ole compactly together. The closet-section B is preferably provided with front casters E. At one end of it, preferably the right-hand end, the section B is provided with a box or compartment F, which has a front door f, which may be opened when the section is closed within the case A, and is intended to hold an ordinary chamber-vessel, which thus will be readily accessible for use. At the side of this box F, and at the inside of the section B, are arranged the earth-closet and its appurtenances,'as next described.

The box or compartment G of the earthcloset is iixed to the front of the hinged commode-section 'B and does not open at Idie front of said section, which is preferably paneled at its outside face to match the outside paneled door f of the compartment F; but this box G is provided at its rear side with a door H, which is provided all around its inner face,

at or next the edges, with a rubber or other suitablepacking 72., which makes an air and gas tight joint with the box to prevent escape therefrom into the commode or room of foul odors from the excreta-vessel I, which is placed in the box G, and directly under the seat-hole la in the box-top K, which latter also preferably forms the top of the adjacent vessel-com partment F.

To a cleat Z, fixed to the top board or plate K over the box F, is connected by hinges L the bottom m of the earth-box M, which, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4 of-the drawings, is provided with a central opening n, communicating with a lower iiange or collar N, which is xed to the bottoni of the box and forms a' case and seat for a conical valve O, which has a stem o extending up through the earth-storage space or chamber of the box and through the top of the box, and above it has a push knob or button P. A spring o', placed on the valveste1n between a collar o2 on the stem and a skeleton guide p for the stem, which crosses the mouth of the eartl1 box, normally expands to close the valve O at the bottom of the flange N to cut off dis- IOO charge of earth from the box; but this discharge oeeu rs whenever the button l" pressed to lower the valve.

The lower face of the box-top l( is provided with a packing m., like the one 71, but arranged to close tightly to the top l around the seathole 7c to prevent exit ot foul odors or gases therefrom.

Suitable catches R. :t are provided on the box G to engage hooks or plates lr r ou the door liand hinged top K and draw their packings 71. ou, tightly to their seats t0 prevent escape of gases .from the box G of the closet. As this box and its appurtenances have eonsiderable weight, l provide the box with its own rear easter-wheel gy, which, with the front easters E, gives substantial support to the eutire hinged section l on the tioor and allows it to be opened and elosed easily.

'lo prepare the commode-closet for use, the box )i will be iilled with earth S, which may easily be done through the collar N when the valve t) is held open while the box is swung over fully on its hinges l); or an opening in the top of the box maybe provided i'or filling it with earth. The iilled box will then be lowered to the top or seat board l{,and when the vessel l is placed in the box G and the door ll is closed and latehed the entire section ll maybe swung or rolled within the ease A, and fastened by the hooks D, or b v a lock or other suitable device.

lVhen the earth-closet is to be used, it is only necessary. to unfasten the section l and roll. or swing it open from the ease A, and then raise the earth-box lli on its hinges, as shown in Fig. l ofthe drawings, and after the closet has been used the earthwbox will be closed and locked to the seat-board l over the vessel l, and the valve head or button l) will be touched or pressed down for an instant, which will open the valve O and let the earth, or some of it, fall `into the vessel I to cover and deodorize the deposits therein, and the entire hinged section may then be closed until it is convenient to remove the vessel I, which may quickly be done by opening the section l and the door li. of the box G.

lt is obvious that the arrangement within the main ease of a structure adapted for withdrawal therefrom and provided with two colnpartments-one for an earth-closet vessel and opening at the inside of the front of the structure, and the other for an ordinary chamber-vessel and open ing at or through the outside of the structure is a most convenient and useful construction because of the i'ree access afforded to the ordinary vessel by simply opening a door and without withdrawing the main earth-closet structure `from the ease. The novel hinging arrangement of the structure l.; and its earth-box M is also worthy ot notice, because when the structure is opened said box,whieh is hinged to the inner part of the seat-board K ot the Garth-closet,

may be quiekly and easily swung bacl ,s0 as to stop against the eon'nnode-case when the closet is in use. (Stilelig. l, ot' the drawings.)

It is obvious that I am not limited to the use et a structure hinged to the commodeease and provided with an earth-closet attachment at the inside and with an ordinary chamber-vessel receptacle which opens at or through the outside of the structure, as this principle of construction giving access to the chambenvessel without exposing the earthcloset may be embodied in a structure fitted to slide into and out ot the commode-ease, and this l consider to be fairly within the scope ot my invention, although the hinged structure is at present preferred.

liaving thusdescribed my invention, what l elaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters iatent, is*

l. An eartilrcloset commode made with a ease, a structure iitted thereto and adapted for withdrawal t-herel'rom, and provided with an earth-closet attachmentOpening at; the inside ot' said structure and with au ordinary ehamber-vessel reeeptaele, the latter having an opening at or through the outside or front ot the structure, substantially as herein set forth.

L. In an earth-closet commode, the eombination et' a ease, a structure hinged. thereto and provided with two compartments F G, the one G forming an earth-elosct-vessel reeeptaele and opening at the inside of the structure and the one l? forming an ordinary chamber-vessel receptacle and opening at or through the outside ol the structure, and an earth-box or deodorizer-vessel hinged to the seat-board ol' the closet, so as to stop against the commode-case when the closet is adjusted for use, substantially as herein set forth.

I3. An earth-closet commode constructed with a case A and a structure ll, hinged thereto and provided with a box F, opening at the front or outside of the structure, an earth-closet box G, opening at the inside ot the strueture, and a valved earthreceptacle hinged to the top or seat board of the box G and adapted to discharge earth therein, substantially as herein shown and described.

l. An earth-closet commode constructed with a ease A, having a drawer l, and a structure B, hinged to the case and provided with a box l", opening at the front or outside oi' the structure, an earth-closet box G, opening at the inside ot the structure, and a valved earth-receptaele hinged to the top or seat, board ol the box Gand adapted to discharge earth therein, substantially as herein set forth.

JOHN W. STOWELL.

Witnesses:

ALuxIs l. 'IIEWETL EnsoN S. Muxenn.

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